Us to the rescue!!!It is a really hectic school day, with projects to submit and everything else. We are really busy people, but still, we have come up with a few actions you bloggers might want to take, or teach your friends so as not to get yourself into trouble while blogging!
Be aware of potential dangers of writing in the public sphere;
future employers, their families or complete strangers can read their posts possibly for years to come. While you may not want to censor their language, they may want to do so themselves, and they should at least be able to make that choice with as much information from you as possible.
Post to your blogs with only first name or a pseudonym.
Without a last name attached to the blog, much of the danger of public writing is allayed.
If you have to rant about your lives, you may want to do so without actually stating the person’s name, and also with ‘symbols’ to represent the said person.
So as to prevent confrontations, and the possible ‘threat’ of getting sued for defaming the said person. Only the close friends of the blogger would know about what’s going on. This would also keep them clear from possible confrontations, and getting into trouble with the teachers.
Educate people on how to cite quotes, should they take information from copyrighted sources.
Presently, for the Early Childhood Education(ECH) course in Ngee Ann Polytechnic, this is a part of one of their modules. This allows the students to know about the different ways to cite different copyrighted material. This would not only help them when they are citing sources for their projects, but also on their blogs, keeping them clear of any possible trouble with the law that they could land themselves in.
Not only should students be worrying. Even working adults should worry about blogging about either their colleagues/bosses, company that they’re working for. This could land them in hot soup, should unfavourable comments/opinions be seen by the said person/party.
There could be campaigns or events set up, to let the public in general, know about the consequences of their actions. If the comments are favourable/if they do compliment the said person, then sure, by all means, do post it up. However, if they are meant to put the person down, or defame him, and make him lose his reputation, then it should be kept unsaid or unexpressed in this manner. A blog is a PUBLIC diary that everyone in the internet world can access.
Make blog entries PRIVATE, if it is a rant post.
It would also make your life a lot easier. And only your close friends are able to read it.
